MTL Announces an SW1500 for delivery in Spring 2014

[bbussey]

It appears that MT is accepting pre-orders for the SW1500 through July... I hope the DCC-thing gets sorted soon.

They are accepting pre-orders on the EL Auto Rack through July.  The SW1500 will be a stock item when it is released next year.

[MichaelWinicki]

They are accepting pre-orders on the EL Auto Rack through July.  The SW1500 will be a stock item when it is released next year.

Thanks for the info Bryan!

[CBQ Fan]

Not to carry this on, but I think we've been pretty good about z announcements...but stuff happens.  We are still in it with two all new Mechanical reefers due before the end of summer...and more on the way.   The E8 stuttered because we lost the factory in china and the cost to get that line going again has been considerable...the z switcher is still in development, we need a smaller motor and we can't just flick on a laser and change scales.  I think the person who first broached this should understand as well as anyone, moving towards N scale because the Z market slowed a few years ago.  No big revelation here and a reasoned move.  Business is business though...we need to keep the doors open and sometimes the adults in the building have to make hard choices I may not, in my z heart not want to hear, but understand. 

It's a beautiful day here in Oregon, I plan on soaking up as much of the sun as possible before the clouds move in.  Enjoy your day and get that project done!

Joe
   

Joe, I appreciate your input!  I find it hard to accept anyone being critical of MT "lack of communication" on this forum because you really go above and beyond here to keep us in the loop, answer our questions, seek our input, and in general be a great model railroader!  I for one thank you.  I know I feel like I get play a small part, understandably a very small part, in the direction of the hobby as a result.  I am sure others do also!  It is interaction like this that will cause me to buy a product like the SW1500 in a road name that I can relate to my layout.  GN or SP come to mind!

[Alaska Railroader]

I would like to add that I am in no way blaming Joe personally with my comments.

[JoeD]

No doubt will be one of the early releases especially with the log cars we just released, and have in stock.  I like the idea of just doing yellow engines with black safety stripes as well.  I can see a lot of industrial opportunities with a scheme like that.

Joe

Speaking of paint schemes...would love to see this done. Not that outrageous because these worked, still do I think, in MTL country (sort of).

http://www.railpictures.net/photo/138617/

[Wlal13again]

Here, you have some catching up to do...


https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=29948.0

[wcfn100]

but said they'll start taking orders for them next month.

Just an error on the page I believe.

Second thing I'm interested in is whether they'll eventually do a calf unit to go with the cow. 

No such thing.


Jason

[tehachapifan]

Just an error on the page I believe.

No such thing.


Jason

...at least with the production model that we see now. The original prototype SW1500 has caused a lot of confusion over the years with the SW1200-ish car body style and overall dimensions.

[Ike the BN Freak]

No such thing.
Jason

However BN did have a cabless SW1000, however it was a wreck rebuild.

[wcfn100]

...at least with the production model that we see now. The original prototype SW1500 has caused a lot of confusion over the years with the SW1200-ish car body style and overall dimensions.

No real confusion.

EMD cataloged the last TR cow-calf sets with the SW1200s,   None were made.

End scene.

Jason

[jmlaboda]

"The original prototype SW1500 has caused a lot of confusion over the years with the SW1200-ish car body style and overall dimensions."

What prototype SW1500?  Model makers based their models on drawings of a purposed SW1500 (not that I have ever seen it), not on an actual unit.

Here are some links to the demo that was built...
http://fc06.deviantart.net/fs14/i/2007/083/a/3/SW1500_demonstrator_by_classictrains.jpg
http://www.barraclou.com/rail/industrial/emd_sw1500demo114.jpg
http://rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=817296

More on the purposed drawing and calf myth can be found at the link below...
http://www.irwinsjournal.com/a1g/a1glocos/CowCalf.html

[peteski]

It's been a while since I've been on here but just noticed something on MIcrotrains website. They announced their doing SW1500 switchers. ...  Kind of interested in finding out if they'll do the mechanism or it will be manufactured by someone else. 

I'm not sure what you're asking.  While MT proudly (so says the paper insert in their products) manufactures their models in the USA.  But in  the only N scale loco they ever produced (FT), the mechanism was made in China.  Are you actually thinking (or hoping) that the entire SW 1500 model will be produced domestically?

Or are you wondering if MT will subcontract some other US N scale manufacturer to make the mechanism?  But even in that case, it would still be made in China (since AFAIK, all the other US-based N scale manufacturers have their models made in China).

As to the other comment (in another post) pleading for a 6-pin CC connector, I mentioned that much earlier in this thread after someone mocked me about mentioning that DCC should be pretty much given in a any new model. Thanks for adding your voice in support of my comment. 

[sdodge]

No doubt will be one of the early releases especially with the log cars we just released, and have in stock.  I like the idea of just doing yellow engines with black safety stripes as well.  I can see a lot of industrial opportunities with a scheme like that.

Joe

If this becomes a reality (Weyerhaeuser) I will be a broke but happy guy! I do realize stuff happens in the long planning and production process so I will not get too excited yet.

BTW - Joe, thanks for participating in this forum, I, for one, appreciate it. Can I buy you dinner?   

Steve

[TiVoPrince]

Nice
to have some facts and insight into the Zscale MTL SW1500.  Hard to imagine a motor so tiny that it would reliably power a Z scale swtcher.

The loss of factory capacity and scrapping of plans has been pervasive within the industry.  MTL gets no more or less blame than others, not having complete control of your process was basically a industry wide decision.  Leaving it to fate that contract manufacturers could forever deliver on time and price was a fantasy.  Nobody came out of that firestorm unscathed but it has certainly made consumers more cautious about announcements...

[wazzou]

As to the other comment (in another post) pleading for a 6-pin CC connector, I mentioned that much earlier in this thread after someone mocked me about mentioning that DCC should be pretty much given in a any new model. Thanks for adding your voice in support of my comment.

Certificate of "1st guy Merit" in the mail.